Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पौषशुक्लत्रयोदश्यां समभ्यर्च्याच्युतं हरिम् । घृतपात्रं द्विजेन्द्राय प्रदद्यात्सर्वसिद्धये ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

pauṣaśuklatrayodaśyāṃ samabhyarcyācyutaṃ harim | ghṛtapātraṃ dvijendrāya pradadyātsarvasiddhaye || 72 ||

Translation

Am Trayodaśī (dreizehnten Mondtag) der hellen Monatshälfte von Pauṣa soll man, nachdem man Acyuta Hari ordnungsgemäß verehrt hat, einem erhabenen Brāhmaṇa ein Gefäß mit Ghee darreichen, um alle Siddhis zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• pauṣa-śukla-trayodaśyām: on Pauṣa bright-fortnight’s thirteenth day
• pauṣa-śukla-trayodaśyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + trayodaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहार/निर्देश): पौषमासस्य शुक्लपक्षस्य त्रयोदशी = on the 13th (tithi) of the bright fortnight of Pauṣa

• samabhyarcya: having worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (अर्च् धातु) + sam + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); उपसर्ग: सम्+अभि; अर्थ: having duly worshipped

• acyutam: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• acyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• harim: Hari
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); ‘हरिम्’ apposition to acyutam

• ghṛta-pātram: a vessel of ghee
• ghṛta-pātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: घृतस्य पात्रम् = a vessel of ghee

• dvijendrāya: to the best of the twice-born
• dvijendrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: द्विजानाम् इन्द्रः = best of twice-born (Brahmin)

• pradadyāt: should give
• pradadyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (दा धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; अर्थ: should give

• sarva-siddhaye: for complete success
• sarva-siddhaye: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुष: सर्वा सिद्धिः = all accomplishment; प्रयोजन-द्योतक: ‘for’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Dvijendra (eminent Brahmin)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It links tithi-based worship of Viṣṇu (Acyuta Hari) with purifying charity (dāna), teaching that devotion expressed through ritual timing and generosity becomes a means to “sarva-siddhi” (holistic spiritual and worldly attainments).

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is shown as active service: worshipping Hari with reverence and then offering a meaningful gift (ghee) to a worthy brāhmaṇa, turning devotion into compassionate, dharmic action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses calendrical discipline tied to tithi (Trayodaśī in Pauṣa Śukla pakṣa), reflecting Jyotiṣa-style time-reckoning for rituals, along with dāna-vidhi (rules of meritorious gifting).